BF/M-Bayreuth

Name

BF/M-Bayreuth

Legal name

Betriebswirtschaftliches Forschungszentrum für Fragen der mittelständischen Wirtschaft e. V.

Website

https://bfm-bayreuth.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SME Applied Business Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Management Consulting Services (54161), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL)

Keywords

• SME business research
• Startup incubation support
• Process mining research
• Vocational training research
• Digital transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bayreuth

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Membership Fees: As a non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) and An-Institut of the University of Bayreuth, BF/M-Bayreuth operates primarily through research project funding (EU, state, and federal), membership fees from regional companies, and event-based services for SMEs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BF/M-Bayreuth conducts applied business-administration research and delivers knowledge-transfer services to small and medium-sized enterprises, startup founders, and vocational-education stakeholders. Its offerings span funded research projects (DGZ2 digital startup center, TrainAI, CRA-COMP, PACE-VET, 5-Euro-Business, Klimaberichterstattung bei KMU), recurring event series (AI Day, UFIS Innovation Summit, DEEP DIVE, Bayreuther Unternehmerstammtisch), and a publications service, all delivered through a non-profit association affiliated with the University of Bayreuth.

Product overview

BF/M-Bayreuth is a non-profit research center (An-Institut) affiliated with the University of Bayreuth that serves regional SMEs through research, transfer, and events. Its portfolio consists of research projects (Digitales Gründerzentrum DGZ2, TrainAI, CRA-COMP, PACE-VET, 5-Euro-Business, Klimaberichterstattung bei KMU), recurring event series (AI Day, UFIS Innovation Summit, DEEP DIVE online events, Bayreuther Unternehmerstammtisch BUS), and publications. The DGZ2 serves as the central platform for startup-Mittelstand networking, while TrainAI and CRA-COMP address AI and cybersecurity compliance respectively. PACE-VET focuses on European vocational education via a digital certification platform. All offerings are research- and knowledge-transfer driven, not commercial SaaS products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digitales Gründerzentrum (DGZ/DGZ2): Digital Startup Center Bayreuth - project supporting innovative founders and connecting them with regional SMEs
• PERSONET
• UFIS (Upper Franconia Innovation Summit)
• DEEP DIVE
• Bayreuther Unternehmerstammtisch (BUS)

Products and services

• Digitales Gründerzentrum Bayreuth (DGZ2) Digital startup center that connects innovative founders with regional SMEs through networking activities and approximately 40 events per year, as part of the Gründerland Bayern initiative.
• TrainAI European research project focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence in continuing education and professional development.
• CRA-COMP Research project addressing cybersecurity compliance requirements, specifically the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), supporting SMEs in meeting new CE obligations for software and hardware from 2027.
• PACE-VET Erasmus+ project developing a digital platform to validate and certify professionally acquired competencies through micro-credentials, recognizing non-formal and informal learning processes across Europe.
• 5-Euro-Business Competition-based program in which student teams launch a fictional micro-business with €5 of starting capital, developing entrepreneurial skills through hands-on practice.
• Klimaberichterstattung bei KMU Research initiative supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in implementing climate reporting and sustainability disclosure requirements.
• AI Day 2026 Annual flagship event organized by the Research Center for AI in Science and Society (RAIS²) in cooperation with BF/M-Bayreuth, focusing on responsible and sovereign AI for industry with scientific and industry keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions.
• UFIS – Upper Franconia Innovation Summit Annual innovation summit for Upper Franconia bringing together startup founders, SME executives, and technology experts to drive regional innovation through practical workshops, real-world case studies, and technology exchange.
• DEEP DIVE Online event series in cooperation with Upper Franconian founder centers, presenting current technologies and regional startups with practical application examples in a concise format.
• Bayreuther Unternehmerstammtisch (BUS) Regular networking event bringing together entrepreneurs from the Bayreuth region for exchange, expert talks, and community building.
• Publications (PUBLIKATIONEN) BF/M-Bayreuth's research publications, including completed project reports and academic outputs available to member companies and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 networking events per year for founders and SMEs through DGZ2 project

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RAIS² (Research Center for AI in Science and Society)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025BF/M co-organizes the AI Day 2026 with RAIS² at University of Bayreuth for interdisciplinary exchange between research and regional economy.
• Teatro EuropaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2024European alliance promoting international exchange for young people working at European theaters. Part of Erasmus+ initiative to increase flexibility in vocational education and training.
• PACE-VET ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2024Erasmus+ project developing a digital platform for micro-certification of professionally acquired competencies in Europe. BF/M serves as German partner.
• University of BayreuthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBF/M-Bayreuth is an 'An-Institut' (affiliated institute) of the University of Bayreuth. This formal affiliation provides academic legitimacy and access to university research expertise and faculty.
• Zuse-GemeinschaftminorOthersBF/M-Bayreuth is a member of the Zuse-Gemeinschaft, a network of autonomous research institutes.
• Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by the Bavarian State Ministry (Staatsministerium) as part of Gründerland Bayern initiative. Provides public funding for startup support and innovation programs.
• Einstein1 Digitales GründerzentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint events and programs for startup support. BF/M collaborates with Einstein1 in Hof for Gründerland Bayern initiatives.
• Oberfranken Startup Centers (Oberfränkische Gründerzentren)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBF/M collaborates with other startup centers in Upper Franconia for joint events and initiatives like DEEP DIVE series.
• Industry and Commerce Chamber Oberfranken Bayreuth (IHK)coreOthersIHK Oberfranken Bayreuth represented in the Kuratorium (supervisory board) to ensure alignment with regional business needs.
• Crafts Chamber Upper Franconia (HWK Oberfranken)coreOthersHWK Oberfranken represented in the Kuratorium to represent craft/trade business interests.
• Sparkasse BayreuthminorOthersRegional savings bank represented in Kuratorium, supporting regional SME financing initiatives.
• VR-Bank Oberfranken Mitte eGminorOthersRegional cooperative bank represented in Kuratorium.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• RKW Kompetenzzentrum: National SME consulting and innovation network with regional offices across Germany. Comparable to BF/M in providing business management, digitalization, and innovation support to Mittelstand firms, with a similar mix of publicly funded projects and membership-based services.
• IHK für Oberfranken Bayreuth: Regional Chamber of Commerce that sits on BF/M's Kuratorium. Provides overlapping SME consulting and event services in the same geography, making it both a partner and a free substitute for BF/M's Mittelstand offerings.
• Einstein1 Digitales Gründerzentrum Hof: Sibling digital startup center in Upper Franconia co-organizing events with BF/M (e.g., DEEP DIVE series). Operates a comparable founder/Mittelstand connector model under the same Gründerland Bayern initiative.
• Institut für Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (IfM Bonn): Germany's flagship independent research institute dedicated to SMEs/Mittelstand, conducting empirical research on SME economics. Directly comparable to BF/M-Bayreuth's SME business-management research mission, though with a national rather than regional scope.
• Fraunhofer FIT: Fraunhofer institute for applied information technology, where Prof. Koschmider holds a leadership role. Directly relevant because BF/M's AI/Process Mining capability is anchored in Koschmider's Fraunhofer FIT affiliation and research pedigree.
• RAIS² (Research Center for AI in Science and Society): University of Bayreuth AI research center co-organizing AI Day 2026 with BF/M. Closely aligned on AI for industry/SME topics and shares the same institutional ecosystem, making it both a collaboration partner and adjacent capability.

Regional players

• Hochschule Hof: Public university in Upper Franconia with applied-research and SME transfer programs targeting the same regional Mittelstand audience as BF/M. Comparable on regional ecosystem positioning though with a different institutional form.

Broad incumbents

• ZEW – Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung: Large German economic research institute publishing policy-relevant research on Mittelstand, innovation, and digitalization. Comparable on research output and policy advisory role but at national scale rather than BF/M's regional scope.
• Fraunhofer IAO: Large Fraunhofer institute focused on work organization, digitalization, and SME/manufacturing transformation. Overlaps with BF/M's Process Analytics and SME digitalization agenda but at much greater scale and broader industry coverage.

Others

• Bayern Innovativ: Bavarian state-funded innovation agency supporting Mittelstand digitalization, technology transfer, and EU project scouting. Functions as a thematic ecosystem peer and potential referral/funder relationship for BF/M rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bfmbayreuth
• Facebookfacebook.com/bfmbayreuth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bf-m-bayreuth
• Instagraminstagram.com/bfm_bayreuth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BF/M-Bayreuth